CROPS AND SOIL IMPROVEMENT 



beating shower that may puddle the surface before 

 the plants are up. 



Seed-mixtures. When grass is wanted for 

 hay as well as fertility, the clovers and timothy 

 compose the greater part of a desirable mixture 

 wherever the clovers and timothy thrive. Prob- 

 ably this condition always will continue. The 

 clovers are needed to supply nitrogen to the soil 

 and to put protein into the hay for livestock. 

 They give way, in large part, or entirely, the 

 second year. Alsike is more nearly perennial 

 than the red which practically lasts only through 

 its second season, when its seed crop has been 

 made, and its function performed. The sod is 

 chiefly timothy in the second season. A little 

 red-top is desirable, and the percentage should be 

 heaviest for quite wet land or very dry land. 

 When fertility is the first consideration, and the 

 sod is left only two or three years, the following 

 mixture is good, and is for one acre : 



Red clover 10 pounds 



Alsike 2 pounds 



Timothy 8 pounds 



Red-top 2 pounds 



When a mixed hay is wanted the first year, the fol- 

 lowing mixture may be found better for the purpose : 



[88] 



